The 8 Keys of Overcomers

Revelation 12 provides a glimpse of war that spilled out from heaven on to earth. Satan rose up in pride and was cast to the earth with angels that fell in the rebellion. It says that Satan, realizing his time was short went make war with those who love and serve God by honoring His word.

In a war you either win or are in a fight to win. Winning requires an offense and a defense.  Offense is the only way you get victory, defense only avoids or delays defeat unless it is combined with an offensive action. This is one of the 8 major principles of war (Click here for Developing Apostolic Strategy to learn more). 

You either overcome or you are in the process of overcoming. If a battle has been lost then you've been overcome and if you won then you can say I overcame.

The major theme of "overcome" in the Bible has to do with righteousness or good overcoming sin or evil. Overcome comes from the Greek word nikao. It means to conquer, overcome and get the victory. In fact its root word is nike. Have you ever heard of Nike?  It means victory. So overcoming has to do with the war, the struggle that occurs within the soul, between the flesh and the spirit; between God's ways, your way or the devil's way. Your goal and my goal is to get the victory and overcome. 

The Bible is the operator's manual and manufacturer's warranty given to us by the designer and Creator of Life. When we operate life within the parameters of the operator's manual then we can enjoy the eternal warranty. But, if we operate life beyond the bounds then we risk a breaking or destroying life. There is only one way to access that warranty and that is through Jesus. It is an extremely generous warranty. It's the best throughout eternity.

However, it is up to the operator how life is employed. The operator can choose to or not to live life in accordance with the wisdom provided in the operator's manual. When the owner of the life operates it within the parameters set forth in the operator's manual (Bible) then they can expect life to function as presented in God's word. There are several warnings provided throughout scripture that describe of the consequences for operating life outside of the designed parameters. 

Do you feel like you are losing in life? Do you want to become a winner? Do you want to be an expert at living life to it's fullest? Do you want to overcome? Then let's take a look at what the scriptures say. 

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1. Overcomers get the victory over sin!

The main theme of "overcome" all through scripture has to do primarily with us overcoming and getting the victory over sin and evil. The secondary emphasis has to do with us overcoming challenges and through faith obtaining promises.

• Click here for The eternal rewards for faith that overcomes.
• Click here for Faith, Endurance and Trials - the keys to overcoming challenges

It is important to recognize that sometimes, God even allows our adversary to overcome the saints (Dan 7:21-22 & Rev. 13:6-8). But there is a season and a reason for all things in the kingdom. God makes all things work together for good. For example, if the rulers of this age and realized what God's plan really was they would not have crucified the Lord of Glory Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 2:7-8).

What appeared to defeat was actually part of God's strategic plan that birthed the Church. Defeat or apparent defeat is never final when one serves the God of the resurrection.

Ecclesiastes 3 says that their are times and seasons for everything under the sun. Sometimes our challenges or situations are personally induced or they might be created by society but usually it is a combination of both. But thanks be to God who always causes us to triumph through Christ Jesus our Lord (2 Cor. 2:14).

2. Do you want to be an overcomer and a winner then check your attitude!

The first place "overcome" is used in the New King James has to do with entering in or taking the Promised Land. Consider Caleb's attitude.

Numbers 13:30
Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, “Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it.”

His attitude was great and so was Joshua's. However, the society they lived did not share their faith and it affected them. They had to wait 40 years to walk into their promised land. It was not their fault but they still had to suffer and wait.

The second time we see the term "overcome" used is related to God's voice. Here is a key to overcoming. It is God's voice. Therefore to position yourself to overcome you've got to positions yourself to hear what God is saying.

1 Samuel 7:10
Now as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel. But the Lord thundered with a loud thunder upon the Philistines that day, and so confused them that they were overcome before Israel.

3. If you want to be an overcomer then you will want to follow a leader who overcomes.

Revelation 3:21
To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.

John 16:32-33
Indeed the hour is coming, yes, has now come, that you will be scattered, each to his own, and will leave Me alone. And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me. These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (World - rulers of this age or government of this world)

4. How to overcome!

Romans 3:4
Certainly not! Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar. As it is written: “That You may be justified in Your words, And may overcome when You are judged.”

Revelation 12:11
And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.

Isaiah 54:17
No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn.
This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, And their righteousness is from Me," Says the Lord.

The word condemn literally means to decide or judge. Satan is the accuser of the brethren (Revelation 12:7) and always brings charges against us. Usually he uses the lips of others as his vehicle. We have to decide (judge) words that are spoken to us and determine the source. How do you overcome? One word or one thought at a time.

5. Don't tell God how big your mountain is, tell your mountain how big your God is!

Matthew 17:20-21
So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. 21 However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”

Romans 12:21
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

2 Peter 2:19-20
While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage. 20 For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning.

1 John 4:4-6
You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 5 They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them. 6 We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

6. Whatever is born of God OVERCOMES the world and the strongman!

1 John 5:3-5
For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. 4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 5 Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

Luke 11:20-22
But if I cast out demons with the finger of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you. 21 When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are in peace. 22 But when a stronger than he comes upon him and overcomes him, he takes from him all his armor in which he trusted, and divides his spoils.

7. The Adversaries Victory is Temporary

Revelation 13:6-8
Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. 7 It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation. 8 All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

In Daniel 7 we see the Ancient of Days and the courts seated. Then we see the beast as well as one like the Son of Man. The beast overcomes UNTIL God renders a judgement in favor of the saints.

Daniel 7:21-22
“I was watching; and the same horn was making war against the saints, and prevailing against them, 22 until the Ancient of Days came, and a judgment was made in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came for the saints to possess the kingdom.

My friends are a in a battle whether we like it of not. We are in a heavenly courts case too. The accuser of the brethren accuses God's people all of the time. But God has given us everything we need to overcome.

The gospel of the kingdom is the good news of power. We do not have to submit ourselves to sin. We can choose what we want to do and when to do it. We can choose what to say and when to say it. The judgment or decision is yours alone.

We cannot control what others do but we can be in control with what we do or how we respond to others. It is a judgment we make. It is our decision. When we make decisions in accordance with God's word, His kingdom power flows through us. That is when and how we overcome.

Have you lost a battle or two? Perhaps you have lost a lot. I don't care. Never count anyone out who serves the one who rose from the dead and got victory over death, hell and the grave. Glory to Jesus!

8. You are never overcome unless you quit getting back up.

Are you discouraged? Then encourage yourself with God's word like David did when everyone wanted to kill him in 1 Samuel 30:6. Everyone was against him but he strengthened himself in God. Everyone wanted to kill him but instead he "IN" "COURAGED" himself in God. I don't know what he said or did exactly but I know it had to have something to do with God's word. So find the scripture in the Bible that encourages you and speak to yourself.

Here is one of my favorite scriptures that encourages me when I feel down.

Micah 7:8-11
Do not rejoice over me, my enemy;
When I fall, I will arise;
When I sit in darkness,
The Lord will be a light to me.
I will bear the indignation of the Lord,
Because I have sinned against Him,
Until He pleads my case
And executes justice for me.
He will bring me forth to the light;
I will see His righteousness.
Then she who is my enemy will see,
And shame will cover her who said to me,
" Where is the Lord your God?"
My eyes will see her;
Now she will be trampled down
Like mud in the streets.
In the day when your walls are to be built,
In that day the decree shall go far and wide.